Delhi Tajmahal Tour

Morning tour of Delhi visiting Raj Ghat & Shanti Vana - the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi & Jawaharlal Nehru, Jama Masjid and drive past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk. Afternoon visit Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate (War Memorial Arch), Lakshminarayan Temple - a modern Hindu Temple, Parliament House, Government Secretariat Buildings and Connaught Place shopping centre.

Rest of the day visit the Shekhavati villages of Dundlod, Mandawa, etc. Mandawa houses a collection of armories, costumes of ancestors, canons from 1820, ancient coins, nmismatic collection and many other interesting items preserved in a museum. The whole area of Shekhavati has beautiful frescoes, havelis & mansions and is called the open air gallery.

On arrival check in at hotel. Afternoon free.

Amber Fort was the ancient capital of the State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Victory glittering with mirrors. Afternoon tour of Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan was given a colour coat of pink a century ago in honour of a visiting Prince and ever since, it has retained this colour. Visit Maharaja's City Palace, the Observatory & Ram Niwas Gardens.

Fatehpur Sikri is 40 kms from Agra. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other Palaces.

Morning visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by the Moghul Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. Later visit the Agra Fort containing the Pearl Mosque, the Halls of Public and Private Audience. Also visit the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daullah built by Empress Noorjehan in memory of her father.

The important ones are Chaunset Yogini Kali Temple, the Mahadev Temple, Chitragupta or Bharatji Temple with a lovely image of 11 headed Vishnu, Vishvanath & Nandi Temples, Lakshmana Temple, Visha Temple of Shiva. Parasvanath Temple is the only existing Jain Temple at Khajuraho and has excellent sculptures on the outer walls of the Sanctum. The Javeri Temple is dedicated to Vishnu. The other temples in this group are those dedicated to Brahma, Yamuna and Adinath.

The two cremation ghats are Manikarnika & Harishchandra where funeral pyre burns day and night. Every pious Hindu believes that to die in Kashi and to be cremated on banks of the Ganges is to attain release from the cycle of birth and death. Later transfer to the airport for Delhi flight. Arrive and transfer to the airport to board a flight for onward journey.